MsLatté’s Daebak Cybercafé (Kdrama addicts #31): After a kdrama dry January, a bounteous February glut saw the carousing begin!

[boatyardblues]

A quiet corner of MN for serious addicts of Kdrama, or the K-curious. Most of our viewing is drawn from Netflix and Viki, with a sprinkling of AmazonPrime, AppleTV and Disney+. There are also platforms streaming content illegally if you go looking. We don’t promote them as they are peppered with pop-ups of “Olga” and friends offering a good time, but we can point you in the right direction. We also dip into Japanese, Taiwanese & Chinese drama as & when.

The previous thread is here but our list is cumulative so includes recommendations and favourites from all previous threads.


Shows marked with an asterisk are more uniformly loved or admired. In categorising series, its important to note most Korean dramas have multiple strands - e.g. supernatural, romance and a thriller; crime series with fantasy elements. Genre-busting mash-ups are normal. Series that are tagged as dark may also have moments of comedy or the absurd, likewise fluff can have heavier moments. Writer/actor Simon Pegg referred to it fondly as “tonal chaos” - it’s part of kdrama’s charm. View the categories below as best approximate & ask if you need guidance about suitability for younger viewers.

Comedy (with a side order of absurd)
I picked up a celebrity on the street (Viki)
My Fellow Citizens (Viki/Netflix)
The Fiery Priest (Netflix)

Crime/Thriller

Come and Hug Me (Dramafast)
Graceful Family (Viki)
Healer (Netflix)*
Heartless City (Viki)
He is Psychometric (Viki)
I Hear Your Voice (Netflix /Viki)

Life on Mars (classy remake of BBC series, no major site yet)
My Name (Netflix)
My Secret Terrius (Netflix)*
Signal (Netflix)*
Stranger - 2 seasons (Netflix)
Suspicious Partner (Netflix)*
The Lies Within (Netflix)*
Tunnel (Netflix)*

Historical/Period drama (“sageuk”)
100 Days My Prince (Viki/Netflix)
Crowned Clown (Viki/Netflix)*
Mr Queen (Viki)*
Mr Sunshine (Netflix)
Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung (Netflix)
Tale of Nokdu (Viki/Netflix)*
The King’s Affection (Netflix)
The Red Sleeve (Viki)*

Romance - lighter & fluffier
Beating Again (Netflix)
Coffee Prince (Netflix)
Dali & the Cocky Prince (Viki)
Don’t Dare to Dream (Netflix, or as Jealousy Incarnate on Viki)*
Gogh, The Starry Night (Viki)

Happy Once Again (Netflix)
Her Private Life (Viki)*

His Master’s Sun (Netflix)
Hometown Cha Cha Cha (Viki)*
Love from a Star (Netflix)*
Lovestruck in the City (Netflix)
Monthly Magazine Home (Viki)
Pinocchio (Netflix)
Radio Romance (Netflix)

Romance is the Bonus Book (Netflix)*
Run On (Netflix)

She Was Pretty (Netflix)*
The Beauty Inside (Viki/Netflix)
The Secret Life of My Secretary (Viki/Netflix)
Thirty Not Seventeen (Viki) or as Still 17 (Netflix)
To My Star [BL] (Viki)
True Beauty (Viki)
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo (Netflix/Viki)

What’s Up With Secretary Kim (Viki)*
Where Stars Land (Viki)*
You are my Destiny (Netflix)
You Make Me Dance [BL] (Viki)
Yumi’s Cells (Viki)


Romance - heavier weight/more grown up themes
Another Miss Oh (Netflix)*
Because This Is My First Life (Viki/Netflix)*

Chicago Typewriter (Viki/Netflix)*
Crash Landing on You (Netflix)**
Descendants of the Sun (Viki/Netflix)
Doctors (Netflix)
Doom At Your Service (Viki)
Fight For My Way (Viki/Netflix)*
Go Back Couple (Viki)/Couple on the Backtrack (Netflix)
I’ll Go To You When The Weather is Nice (Viki)
It’s OK Not To Be OK (Netflix)

Just Between Lovers (Viki)/Rain or Shine (Netflix)*
Mad For Each Other (Netflix)*
Melo is my Nature (Viki)/Be Melodramatic (other sites)*
My Strange Hero (Viki)
One Spring Night (Netflix)
Red Carpet - film (Netflix, very adult content)
Romantic Dr Kim - seasons 1&2 (Viki)
Search: WWW (Viki, Netflix)*

Something in the Rain (Netflix)
The Handmaid (film, Netflix - content warning: explicit sexual content)
The Package (Viki)

Straighter ‘Slice of Life’ dramas on universal themes
Hospital Playlist (Netflix)*
Hospital Playlist 2 (Netflix)*
Into The Ring (Viki)
Itaewon Class (Netflix)
Live (Netflix)
Misaeng (Netflix)*
Move to Heaven (Netflix)
My Mister (Viki/Netflix)*
My Unfamiliar Family (Viki)*
Navillera (Netflix)*
Prison Playbook (Netflix)*

Once Again (Viki)
Stove League (Viki)/Hot Stove League (Netflix)
Racket Boys (Netflix)
Would You Like a Cup of Coffee (Viki)*

Supernatural/zombies/vampires/fantasy/sci-fi - lighter & fluffier
Extraordinary You (Netflix)
Goblin (Viki)*

I am not a Robot (Netflix)
Legend of the Blue Sea (Viki/Netflix)
Kiss Goblin (Viki, webdrama)
My Holo Love (Netflix)*
Orange Marmalade (Netflix)
While You Were Sleeping (Viki)*



Supernatural/zombies/vampires/fantasy/sci-fi - darker/more grown up themes
#Alive (Netflix)
Black (Netflix)*
Happiness* (Viki)
Hotel del Luna (Viki/Netflix)*
King: The Eternal Monarch (Netflix)
Kingdom (Netflix)*
Kingdom: Ashin of the North (Netflix)
Mystic Pop-up Bar (Netflix)
Peninsula - film, Train to Busan sequel (Amazon Prime, iMovies)
Sisyphus (Netflix)
The Guest (Netflix)
Train to Busan - film (Amazon Prime)

W: Two Worlds (Viki & Netflix)*
Zombie Detective (Viki/Netflix)


Guilty Pleasures (for the joy, not the quality)
Bride of Habaek (Netflix)
Hwarang (Viki/Netflix)
My Secret Romance (Viki)
The Last Empress (Viki/Netflix)
Sassy Go Go (Netflix)



Mad as a box of frogs/uncategorisable

Strong Girl Bong Soon (Netflix)
School Nurse Files (Netflix)

Not Korean ‘You May Also Like’
Regulars also branch out into Japanese, Taiwanese and Chinese drama. The Chinese & Taiwanese stuff is much more variable quality-wise, so we’ve noted anything decent here:

Before We Get Married (Viki - Taiwanese)
Find Yourself (Netflix - Chinese)
Go Go Squid (Viki - Chinese)
In House Marriage Honey (Viki, Japanese)
In Time With You (Viki - Japanese)
Instead of Tipsy Why Not Get Drunk (Viki, Chinese)
Lost Romance (Viki, Taiwanese)
Love O2O (Viki, Chinese)
Million Yen Women (Netflix, Japanese)
Morning Call (Netflix, Japanese)
My Little Happiness (Viki, Chinese)
Put Your Head on My Shoulder (Netflix, Chinese)
Rinko Wants To Try (Viki)
Some Day or One Day (Viki, Taiwanese)
The Romance of Tiger & Rose (Viki, Chinese)
To Fly with Me (Viki, Chinese)
Tientsin Mystic (Netflix, Chinese)
You Are My Hero (Viki, Chinese)*

AVOID aka “the shit list” 💩

Melting Me Softly
The Birth of a Beauty
Well-Intentioned Love season 1 (S2 is fine & stands alone)

The Addicts’ Top Scoring 2021 Dramas
Courtesy of Hello’s kdrama spreadsheet, updated by thread regulars. Marks out of 10.

So, current rankings @ 21.15ish today:

1. The Red Sleeve - 10 (2 votes, more pending)
2. Happiness - 9 (6 votes)
3. Devil Judge - 8.75 (3 votes)
4. Squid Game - 8.63 (12 votes)
5. Navillera - 8.57 (7 votes)

2020’s top scoring dramas
1 - Mr Queen - 9.4 (5 votes)
2 - Parasite - 9.05 (10 Votes)
3 - It's Okay To Not Be Okay - 8.88 (9 Votes)
4 - The Uncanny Counter - 8.50 (4 Votes)
5 - Once Again - 8.42 (6 Votes)

2019’s top scoring dramas:

1. Her Private Life - 9.40 (5 votes)
2. Melo is My Nature - 9.00 (5 votes)

3.= Crash Landing On You, The Crowned Clown, The Lies Within, and The Tale of Nokdu - 8.75 (4 votes)

1. Hotel del Luna - 8.50 (4 votes)

5.= Romance is a Bonus Book, and Search: WWW - 8.17 (6 votes)

We are generally fans of all things Korean, so equally happy to talk about Korean cookery, language, film and music when the mood takes us. A few of us are learning Korean, Japanese and/or Mandarin (some more diligently than others admittedly), so we swap tips and links to language resources. Basically, anything topical goes.

We sometimes resort to acronyms and/or abbreviations of show titles or favourite actors’ names. Don’t be afraid to ask for help/clues if we’re not making sense or have descended into acronym soup.

If you want to join us down the kdrama rabbit hole, welcome! Pull up a chair, say goodbye to early nights and get stuck in!

Oh Mr Queen and Melo both essential

All this talk of Melo makes me think it’s time for a rewatch. So much to enjoy. Every time I see the crazy writer actress in something else I just think of the drunken rabbit. I also want to see the arcade dance-off again. And the FL’s inner monologuing when crazy writer lady and the young director go head to head.

I did a rewatch of Melo recently. It's just so GOOD. Perfect combination of witty comedy, realistic tragedy and fun romance.

OPPPPPPAAAAAA!!!! Oppa Oppa Oppaaaaaa!!!

PSA that FLAW ends on a cliffhanger so may want to save to double bill tomorrow.

Good save pol ! I will go for the double bill tomorrow option 👍🏻

@FedUpWithBriiiiick

I did a rewatch of Melo recently. It's just so GOOD. Perfect combination of witty comedy, realistic tragedy and fun romance.

OPPPPPPAAAAAA!!!! Oppa Oppa Oppaaaaaa!!!

How could I have forgotten about the oppaaaaaa scene? 🤦‍♀️ One of the funniest scenes ever.

21 25!!! ... The scene with yu rims mum and hee do!.. 😳😢😢😥😢😥... So well done! This drama is lovely! It had better have at very very good ending!! 😍

@polkettle

PSA that FLAW ends on a cliffhanger so may want to save to double bill tomorrow.

Too late! For me! Now I have to wait!... 😖😖😖😖

Ohhh, I get a bit jealous when people are about to watch shows that I’ve loved - like Vincenzo and Coffee Prince! Happy watching chingus!

The clip above with the ajumma (sp?) being the sign that the drama will be good is so true - she’s such an amazing actress! Though I first saw her in The Heirs, so I’m still unfeasibly surprised every time she can actually talk in another drama! 😳 🤣

I still haven’t watched Melo and Goblin … I need to get to grips with Viki again…

Too late! For me! Now I have to wait

Same. We had the dc coming for supper so we had a late afternoon viewing.
Most enjoyable.

‘Do you want to come see my cat’
ahahaha, Vlive gems 😂

I watched cliffhanger FLAW despite the warning, rebel that I am AND I LIKED IT!!! Now I have to wait for ep 12 to drop. Does all this weather/emotions stuff count as pathetic fallacy? Feels like it should.

@JinBhoot I wasn't able to watch the live but thanks to the amazing Bangtan translators on twitter got to enjoy it 😍
I loved Zombie Detective on Viki, as well as all the other recommendations

Which Twitter feed or hashtag do I need for the bangtan translations Girl? That was the one bit of the livestream where I felt at a disadvantage, not being about to follow their chat. I was pleased to recognise some vocab and a few verbs so I had a ballpark idea of the topics.

Supposed to go for a run and instead I'm still in bed and 21 episodes into Sixth Sense Kiss . Goddam you addictive Webtoon world with your plentiful unlocked episodes shakes small fist halfheartedly at sky

Wisha @ do you Bangtan or Christa @ ryuminating both do live translations of Bangtan stuff on twitter boaty

Supposed to go for a run and instead I'm still in bed and 21 episodes into Sixth Sense Kiss . Goddam you addictive Webtoon world with your plentiful unlocked episodes shakes small fist halfheartedly at sky

Aaaah pol are you me? (except for the going for a run bit, that would never happen) Sixth Sense Kiss is one that I save my coins for!

Well whatever you do don't start Til Debt Us Do Part uh huh no way you won't like it especially as it's completed

claps hands in happiness and adds to the list Btw really enjoying daily dose of No Outtakes which is higher concept than I normally go for but also very funny.

@bettys

Supposed to go for a run and instead I'm still in bed and 21 episodes into Sixth Sense Kiss . Goddam you addictive Webtoon world with your plentiful unlocked episodes shakes small fist halfheartedly at sky

Aaaah pol are you me? (except for the going for a run bit, that would never happen) Sixth Sense Kiss is one that I save my coins for!

Well whatever you do don't start Til Debt Us Do Part uh huh no way you won't like it especially as it's completed

I agree No Outtakes is really good, and am enjoying the sly pokes at dramas and fandom

I feel quite "seen" reading it...

Prestel yes, I finished 100 Days My Prince yesterday, really enjoyed it. I didn't think I would like the period dramas as much, but it has definitely whet my appetite.

hawthornknitter I am with you with the Gong Yoo and the Quebec love. Train to Busan is my favourite zombie film, even without Gong Yoo I would adore it. Coffee Prince and Goblin were both wonderful, I know I will be rewatching them at some point.

Looking forward to the new episode of Business Proposal tomorrow, but I actually hope the 2ML and 2FL don't end up in bed together after the end of last week's episode. She was very drunk and even though she is after him, she was pretty wasted. I would prefer him to be a gentleman and leave her with a glass of water and some paracetamol and an invitation to his place when she is sober.

Nooooo! Just reached critical steamy point in Sixth Sense and I've run out of free episodes and now have to wait 6 days. Aaaaaaaaargh.
Right on to the next one then...

Pol I hope you find something equally enthralling to scroll/flick through.

After a few weeks of being too busy and not sleeping well I spent most of yesterday in bed with kdramas. I finally finished Goblin, so snap hawthornknitter. I agree that Quebec looks beautiful.

I started Business Proposal yesterday afternoon and am up to episode 4. I love it a great deal. So far it's the perfect romance to escape into with a good set of second leads too.

I'm also waiting impatiently for Vlive to get the subs done. It's taking longer than usual!

Now I'm just wondering whether to watch 25/21 first or FLAW. Decisions, decisions...

@TheGirlWithTheArabStrap

Wisha @ do you Bangtan or Christa @ ryuminating both do live translations of Bangtan stuff on twitter boaty

I didn’t know that vlive translations was a thing on Twitter. Searched for it yesterday after @TheGirlWithTheArabStrap post, and found @ btsbaragi_jk she is translating insta stories & comments. I will also check the two which Girl has recommended.